Generac 3100 E

The Generac 3100 E-Start was the best gas pressure washer in my larger tested best pressure washers review. Ahead, learn more about the do-it-all device and why I loved it so much.

The Generac 3100 E-Start has the most streamlined system compared to other equivalent gas pressure washers I tested for my best pressure washers review. It’s also the lightest, which means it was easiest to maneuver. This pressure washer is also simple to build and start, thanks to its dual-start system.

The Generac 3100 E-Start won as the gas pressure washer in my tests.

It was the most expensive gas pressure washer I tested by about $40, but the streamlined user experience was worth the extra cost. Compared to the electric contenders, the gas-powered options were more powerful and better suited for heavier-duty projects.

The Home Depot

Power Source: Gas | PSI: 3,100 | GPM: 2.5 | Cleaning Units: 7,750 | Power-to-Weight: 133 cleaning units/pound

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The most important question to ask when buying a pressure washer is: What will you use it for?

If you need the most power possible to tackle large projects, a gas pressure washer is the way to go. They require more maintenance, but they’re more portable (since you don’t have to plug them in) and more powerful, for big areas like long driveways or construction sites. The Generac 3100 E-Start has higher PSI and GPM ratings than its electric cousins, which makes it great for those longer and tougher projects.

A gas pressure washer is the way to go for bigger projects.

But if you just need to do smaller projects like cleaning your car, clearing off the siding on your house or clearing out your pavers? Electric is the answer.

The Generac has a maximum 3,100 PSI at 2.5 GPM for a total rating of 7,750 cleaning units. In terms of handling, you can definitely feel the power of this machine: You’ll need two hands to use the trigger handle. Be careful, though, because at the highest setting and with the smallest pinpoint nozzle, the Generac cleaned all the dirt away but also cut grooves on my asphalt driveway!

The Generac 3100 E-Start has a similar power output to its gas competitors. But at 55 pounds, the E-Start is about 10% lighter than most of its direct competitors, giving it a higher power-to-weight ratio than most of the other pressure washers I tested. This lighter weight allows for more versatility, as the heavier gas units are noticeably harder to maneuver.

“Gas units also provide better mobility, as the customer needs to move around the units beyond the 25-foot high-pressure hose can provide,” notes Gus Alexander, owner of the FNA group.

The Generac has a dual-start feature that lets you choose between a conventional recoil (pull) start ... [+] and an easy-to-use battery-powered button start.

The Generac also has a dual-start feature that lets you choose between a conventional recoil (pull) start and a battery-powered button start. This matters because the recoil starter (like an old-school lawnmower, throwing your arm above your head over and over) is exhausting. Gas-powered washers are loud, so you’ll want to turn the Generac off and on as you work through that large cleaning project. Pushing a button, rather than navigating a pull-start over and over, is a big win.

At $499, the Generac is the most expensive washer I tested, but it’s similarly priced to other gas-powered washers I tried. Still, it’s more than twice the cost of the top electric pressure washer pick, the Sun Joe SPX 3000 XT1. If you’re looking for the most powerful pressure washer, though, I think it’s worth the investment; an electric model will likely work well enough for smaller projects.

One downside to the Generac is that its nozzles aren't color-coded, so they're harder to use than ... [+] other pressure washers I tested.

However, Generac’s design has a few issues—namely, the nozzles. Every washer I tried used a universal color-coded system for distinguishing one nozzle from another ( red for 0 degrees, yellow for 15 degrees, black for soap, etc.). Every other manufacturer also includes numbers and text on the nozzles themselves, or a chart on the body of the machine (or both), so you can tell what’s what. Generac, curiously, has omitted everything except the color system, so you can’t reference which nozzle you’re using. I constantly forgot which was which.

I’m a freelance journalist who’s been writing product reviews and gear guides for more than a decade. I’ve spent most of this time focused on outdoor gear, parenting and kid products, and have written for Wirecutter, the Wall Street Journal and Slate, among others. I’ve covered topics including the best sports bras and the best baby carriers for Forbes.

For this guide, I coupled my experience testing outdoor gear with new homeownership. Last year, my husband and I moved onto an acre of land in Bend, Oregon, with our children. I quickly got to work taming brush, cleaning surfaces and planting a garden on land that hadn’t been maintained well for at least five years. In short, I had a lot that needed to be pressure-washed!

I found through my testing that comparing gas and electric pressure washers is a little like comparing apples to oranges. They’re similar enough, but you need to know what kind of projects you’re going to use them for to decide which is best for you. The Sun Joe SPX 3000 XT1, the top pick and the best electric power washer, is likely better for tackling most cleaning jobs. It’s more versatile and lightweight, and it’s also cheaper. But the Generac is much more powerful than all of the electric options I tried, and lighter than the other gas washers I tested. For big messes or larger areas, it’s the clear top choice.

First, I learned about the different power metrics (PSI, GPM, cleaning units) and read dozens of reviews of pressure washers. I spoke with several experts, including Darren Littledeer, the owner of Green Pressure Wash in Bend, Oregon, and Gus Alexander, the owner of the FNA Group, which manufactures pressure washers, to figure out what a residential homeowner or renter might need. This gave me a good idea of what was on the market and allowed me to work through the many upsides and downsides of gas vs. electric systems.

I then ordered the seven picks—four electric, three gas—and put them to work. As I assembled each system, I took notes on which ones were considerably easier than others to build. Then I tested the lineup in my yard, blasting sets of pavers and dirt-covered segments of the driveway. I also pressure-washed the sides of my house, and I used the electric options to clean my cars. Eventually I narrowed the list down to a few best options, which I then put to use around town, offering to pressure-wash friends’ driveways.